7-20 is A1

Until the creation of the Fenty brand, she was known as the unprecedented pop star, Rihanna. Robin Rihanna Fenty is one of the most successful musicians of her time, as her passion for making music, talent for performing, and ability to connect with fans have made her a nonstop sensation in the industry.

It was not until she dipped her toes in a new pond that we realized there is much more talent than meets the eye. Rihanna has recently ventured into a new industry; fashion. With the conception of her fashion brand Fenty, in addition to her cosmetic brand Fenty Beauty, Rihanna explores her appetite for makeup and luxury fashion. The collections are just as unique and tasteful as you would expect them to be coming from Rihanna, with flavor and spunk that are too irresistible to pass up.

Thus far, Fenty has been known for its show stopping lingerie collection, titled Savage Fenty. The sexy, sophisticated yet fun pieces are high quality and compliment any body type. But, there’s a new Fenty in town, and her name is 7-20. In collaboration with Amina Muaddi, this fierce female duo captures the boldness and strength of women in modern shoe designs. The collection is especially admirable as it celebrates the creativity and genius of artistic women, and embodies the electrifying energy maintained throughout the entire Fenty brand.

With designs that include square toe soles, braided straps and mesh fabrics, the collection has the ability to fulfill the desire of every woman’s closet. One of the most admirable aspects of the 7-20 collection is the heel itself, the only piece of the different silhouettes that remains the same, designed to hold up each shoe and support the strong woman who is wearing it.

Though this is the last release of the Fenty Summer collection, it is the first ever release of shoes for the brand. The designs are breathable and allow the wearer to remain comfortable in the heat of summer, but by no means fall short of attraction or originality. It comes as no surprise that Rihanna and Amina’s creativity and brilliance have created Fenty’s newest, and perhaps most desirable, collection.

All photo's originate from the Fenty website.

Report: Alexandra Donnelly

How Inspiration from Fall 2020 Ready-to-Wear Collections Revealed Today’s Society

Collections during fashion week have always been known for setting the trends for the upcoming seasons. They defined the landscape of style for years and have turned out some of the most iconic fashion statements of all time. However, with what we are experiencing now it has become a time in which designers are forced to become more conscious about their work, both politically and sustainably. Around late January to early March, shows were held for the Fall 2020 ready-to-wear collections. The themes, however, displayed a more serious and darker tone, ranging from saving our planet, to feminism and the switch between predator and prey, coincidentally resembling the current time we are experiencing.

Marine Serre’s Fall 2020 collection perfectly captured the essence of a world going into flames, but still revealed the hope she had in society into turning the tables to save society before the brink of destruction. She especially emphasizes the calm she tries to upkeep while the world is going crazy and trying to distract her from being creative. Serre’s focus for this collection was on the planet burning, both in the aspect concerning sustainability and the current chaos. The moon logo that defines her brand has been altered for this collection, as if it was affected by heat. The looks continued to personify a world burning with the use of sandy denim for even more of a burnt effect. Although Marine Serre’s collection was meant to personify how the world is currently bubbling, it is meant to be a transformation into a new community from this destroyed world. Similar to how society is right now, Coronavirus has made a huge impact on the world and now we live in a time where health and safety are the priority in order to reduce those infected and even killed.

Another Fall 2020 collection that resembled a more darker, serious tone was Rodarte, helmed by Laura and Kate Mulleavy. Drawing inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, they put the emphasis on the prey instead. The show originally did not appear dark, invoking dainty polka-dot day dresses and pouf sleeves. As the show went on, however, the dainty quality turned up a notch and even turned a bit uncomfortable with the designs being bolder in their feminine and pastel colors. All of a sudden, the tone was changed and out came the dark, goth vibe consisting of capes, fringe, and blood red. This symbolized the transformation of prey into predators, which can be applied to many issues going on in today’s world. This collection was meant to represent a woman becoming “furiously alive,” aware of her surroundings and taking control. Especially with what’s going on right now, women have the power to take control of their lives and decide what's best for them.

Although no one could predict how the world and society would turn out right now, it is evident that these two Fall 2020 collections coincidentally revealed the more serious, yet powerful time that we are living in today.

Photo Credit: The New York Times, Vogue.

Report: Charlene Piccio

Reese Cooper’s Spring 2021 Collection

Reese Cooper has always been a designer with pure talent since his young age. He’s someone that filled his past with solo lunches at school, researching and saving up money to buy from one of his favorite fashion brands BAPE. From there he began to create a bright future for himself. Now today we are looking at his Spring 2021 fashion line that holds very unique pieces. There were designs filled with pockets, splashes of hunters orange and forest greens; a lot of outdoor wear vibes. Let's take a closer look at them, shall we? One favorite design of mine was this light blue dress that looked as if there was a scene in the woods imprinted on it. Truly stunning and different from your usual.

Other than the bright and beautiful hunters orange and dark greens we saw, there were also a lot of blues as well. We saw several long sleeve blue cover ups along with cargo pants that just scream outdoors. Each and every design was inspired by what he was feeling during the lockdown, after Cooper was feeling a little overwhelmed like many of us were feeling as well. He would drive down to a lake to clear his mind and soak up some nature and he wanted to represent that in this collection. This collection is a mix of street wear fashion, but also flexible enough to wear and enjoy the outdoors.

Interestingly enough, because of the recent pandemic, Cooper was unable to do the runway he originally planned. But it turned out to make it more real than it could’ve ever been. He was able to gather people closest to him, friends and collaborators and have this “runway” take place at a small steam in Thousand Oaks, California. Hence, the name of his collection being called “River Runs Through”. The turn of events went well with the theme of his collection.

A great documentary that may be worth the watch and shows Reese Cooper’s drive and dedication to his work is called “We’re not particularly talented, we just try hard.” Despite the name of the documentary, Cooper is most definitely talented. His collection is opening up doors to endless possibilities of what the world of fashion can look like. I believe this is only the beginning for Reese Cooper. Looking forward to more of his work!

Photo Credits: Vogue

Report: Melissa Adragna (@melissa_adragna)

Burberry Announces it's First Post-Lockdown Fashion Show

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has caused several businesses to close and events to be cancelled, over the past four months. However, with cases decreasing, many things are starting to reopen, including the fashion industry.

The fashion brand, Burberry, recently announced its first fashion show since lockdown began. The show is scheduled for September, and will feature its Spring/Summer 2021 line. However, a specific location has not been announced yet, with a representative from Burberry stating they are planning the show to be in the "British outdoors." The show will also be able to be streamed digitally, similar to other events from the fashion industry. Burberry’s chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci stressed that the show will be “open for all to experience”, adding that “we have all yearned to reconnect again." Tisci describes his vision and hopes for the show as, "I wanted to celebrate these feelings by bringing our community together in a creative experience that takes place within the beautiful, natural landscape of Britain.”

There are currently no plans on how Burberry plans to maintain social distancing guidelines in Britain for the show. British residents are currently forced to stand two meters apart from each other, while in public. Although, we have no idea what the pandemic will be like in September.

Burberry's fall 2020 collection was not streamed digitally, however, images were released on the Internet, and it has recently landed in stores. The collection is a reworking of classic pieces.

Report: Anna Bechtel

How 13-Year-Old Kheris Rogers Turned Being Bullied Into a Celeb-Loved Fashion Line

At just 13, Kheris Rogers is already enjoying a thriving career. She's an actor, influencer, business owner, and newly signed artist to Columbia Records' new girl group, Run The World. A few years ago, after she was bullied at school for her complexion, Kheris's family encouraged her to begin daily affirmations to build up her confidence. She found the practice incredibly effective and rewarding. There was something empowering about being able to transform her negative experience into something positive and self-affirming. She wanted to share her growing sense of strength with the world and, in doing so, help others who might be dealing with similar situations.

At the age of 10, with the help of her big sister, Kheris founded Flexin' In My Complexion to help other kids feel beautiful and love themselves. In just three years, her business has already won high-profile fans like Alicia Keys, Lupita Nyong'o, Drake, and Lena Waithe. Kheris Rogers said, “The most exciting part of watching my brand take off is being able to travel the world, going to speaking engagements, and speaking to young girls and boys to encourage them to love themselves and chase their dreams. As an entrepreneur, she has learned to trust her instincts, have fun with it and to not be afraid to be different.

She said, “I hope my message teaches other kids who may be experiencing bullying that you are not alone. We are all unique, smart, and creative in our own way. Our differences [are] what makes us special, and that should be embraced, so it does not matter what other people think of you.” As a designer, she is excited to use her experiences to inspire new designs. She would love to collaborate with a Black-owned brand like Fenty or Ivy Park. She is currently inspired by Nike, Fenty Beauty, Old Navy and Justice

Report: Amanda T Lou

Paris Fashion Week to Return in September 2020

After men’s fashion week was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, regular scheduling is set to begin again in September. According to a statement issued by Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, Paris Fashion Week will return in September for the women’s Spring/Summer 2021 shows.

No further details about the schedule or its participants have been released, but the shows will take place between September 28 and October 6. The Fédération’s statement goes on to add that the event “will comply for its implementation with to the recommendations of public authorities.” The physical fashion week will be run alongside a specially-created online platform. As the Fédération’s president, Ralph Toledano, told Vogue back in May: “Digital is clearly part of the shape of fashion to come and we will take it as an opportunity of innovation to complement tradition. This being said, [in the] last weeks behind our screens, we all felt that a dimension was missing: the sensorial one. This has tremendously reinforced our position that nothing will ever replace the unity of time and place. Shows are a major component of the fashion industry, and this will remain.... Physical events will always have our preference, but as long as there is uncertainty, there should be flexibility.”

The Coronavirus crisis has led to brands seeking new and innovative ways to present their collections for fashion weeks. London staged an online-only event earlier this month, while Burberry has announced plans for a show in the “British outdoors” in September. Both Pitti Uomo and Milan Fashion Week are also set to go ahead in September.

Report: Amanda T Lou

In These Uncertain Times, Victor Glemaud is Still Hoping to Inspire People.

Safe to say, 2020 has been an interesting year. From COVID-19, to the unjust murders of George Floyd and other black people, most people aren't feeling that great.

Fashion designer, Victor Glemaud, has been working from his home for the past three months. Glemaud looks back amazed that his business has been able to adapt so quickly. “At the beginning, it was challenging because it was all so uncertain,” he says of the early days of lockdown. “I’ve done fittings virtually before, I’ve done sketch handoffs and line reviews virtually before, so it wasn’t about it being difficult to adapt. It was more getting used to the idea of not knowing when we would work together again, and when we would see each other again.”

Glemaud's biggest challenges have been more on the personal end, than on the business end. With his business celebrating 15 years soon, Glemaud started his career working with Patrick Robinson in New York. Glemaud later went on to work in PR for the likes of Versace, Marc Jacobs, and Helmut Lang, before returning to consult with Robinson during his time at Paco Rabanne, then launching his own label in 2006. After rebranding with a more stripped-back approach in 2015, Glemaud began focusing primarily on the bold, brightly-colored knits that have been a resounding hit with his long-time customers. They’ve also earned him a place as a finalist for the 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and resulted in his first runway show back in February of this year.

While the development of his spring 2021 collection has been a little more tricky—Glemaud notes the technical intricacies of producing knitwear are more difficult to test without seeing the garments in the flesh—he has still been managing to find inspiration in less likely corners.

“Normally what I do is go to galleries or museums and get inspired or see so “Normally what I do is go to galleries or museums and get inspired or see something that sparks something that way. Since I can’t do that, I’ve been reading a lot more. It’s been more of a fluid process.”

When asked how the fashion industry can support black lead brands and businesses, Glemaud said, “I think it’s about having our industry truly support Black-owned businesses by paying us, by promoting us within their channels,” he continues. “Not just today or tomorrow, not just a tag here or there, but showcasing work in a meaningful way, really being true partners. Whether it’s a retailer, an editor, a stylist, a production partner. Things that are needed to actually grow a business. Things that a lot of young creatives that I’ve spoken to recently in the last two weeks have felt and have all told me they don't have access to.”

Report: Anna Bechtel

Aurora James Calls for Retailers to Support Black Owned Businesses Long Term

Global outrage in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black individuals has called attention to the need for reform not only within law enforcement but in retail and the fashion industry as well. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen fashion and beauty companies pledging their allegiance to the Black community through monetary donations to anti-racism organizations or by using their platforms to promote Black creators but is this sufficient? Aurora James, the founder of sustainable accessories brand Brother Vellies, has stepped forward and proposed a plan that would enable retailers to support Black businesses not just now but long-term. In an Instagram post on May 29th, she called on Whole Foods, Target, MedMen, Walmart, Saks, Sephora, Net-A-Porter, Barnes and Noble, and Home Depot and asked that they would commit to purchasing 15% of their products from Black-owned businesses. What is most admirable about this call to action is it’s blunt nature. James directly told these retailers “So many of your stores are set up in Black communities… We represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space.” She continued highlighting the substantial positive affects this pledge could have saying that “Investors for the very first time will start actively seeking [black businesses] out. Small businesses can turn into bigger ones. Real investment will start happening in Black businesses which will subsequently be paid forward into our black communities.” In addition to her Instagram post, Aurora launched a website https://www.15percentpledge.org and 501 (c)(3). Thus far, Sephora has been the only retailer of those tagged in the initial post to commit to the 15% pledge which has many wondering if the others will follow. Still, according to James “thousands of people” have signed the pledge since it began. Individuals who would like to sign the petition can do so online at https://www.15percentpledge.org or by texting “PLEDGE” to 917-540-8148. As Aurora said herself “You want to be an ally? This is what I’m asking for.”

Photo Credits: @aurorajames @15percentpledge

Report: Corine Gauthier

Purses For Every Occasion

If you love purses as much as I do listen up. A very important Italian designer has caught my attention. While looking through a magazine I came across this emerald purse sketch. This Italian designer has a brand-new collection of purses just in time for the summer. Bottega Veneta was set up in 1966 in Vicenza, Italy by business visionaries Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro. The organization built up a particular cowhide weave configuration, called intrecciato, that was utilized on the outside of a significant number of its items, and turned out to be generally connected with the Bottega Veneta brand. This unique look has carried on for years for a new modern look. This modern look consists of a crossbody sack in a twofold face maxi weave. It is made a with wide twofold face Nappa strips in a symmetrical weave. The interior is indistinguishable from outside; fitted with a zipped pocket with a magnetic closure. One last thing it has an adjustable shoulder lash overlap inside the pack to convey as a grasp. It comes in hustling green, black, light orange, mortar, custard, orange, caramel and fondente. This purse collection is the perfect purse for the summer/spring to add to your accessories collection.

Photo Credits: Bottega Veneta

Report: Tykaia Rose

Anifa Mvuemba Has Completely Transformed Runway Culture.

During a time when we can’t physically gather, Baltimore native Anifa Mvuemba, the founder of clothing brand Hanifa has transformed runway culture. The Congolese designer has given us a glimpse of what fashion shows could possibly be following the pandemic. Using technology and innovation Mvuemba was able to share her story and showcase her collection to the public from home.

Hanifa’s mission is to highlight the beauty, delicacy, and the history of Congolese clothing. Using her clothes to celebrate her homeland’s history regardless of how painful, with the goal to rewrite its future. Mvuemba said in an interview that she felt that releasing the collection during the pandemic would appear insensitive but she has definitely taken the internet by storm. Utilizing social media, specifically Instagram live, Anifa revealed her “Pink Lable Congo” line using virtual models. In an interview with TeenVogue, Anifa said that she had been thinking of taking her fashion shows to the internet and have been working on this project for seven months.

During the launch of the collection, Anifa explains that each look in this collection meant to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo. She also wanted to use this launch to raise awareness of the illegal mining of cobalt on the land. According to CNN, it is estimated that nearly 40,000 children are working on mines making $1 to $2 a day. To bring attention to this Anifa open the fashion show with a short documentary of stories of these mine workers. This documentary highlighted the harsh conditions underage children and women face for long hours.

To learn more about this cause here's a link to the IGTV runway show.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAhDULhAFvG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Report: Lauren Tucker

Gucci Calls the Fashion Schedule "Worn Out" and Decides on Seasonless Shows Twice a Year

It's no secret that the coronavirus is the push the fashion industry needed to clean up its act. Now that everything from garment supply chains to performative fashion shows are in desperate need of restructuring, who will be the voices of fashion's future? Gucci's Alessandro Michele is one person leading that conversation and thinks the annual seven-season fashion show schedule is "worn out" — we couldn't agree more.

Following Gucci's virtual press conference on May 24, creative director Alessandro Michele took to Instagram to elaborate on how the brand is embracing a more sustainable fashion show schedule. "I will abandon the worn out rituals of seasonalities and show to regain a new cadence, closer to my expressive call," Michele muses in a poetic Instagram carousel captioned Diario. "We will meet just twice a year, to share the chapters of a new story. Irregular, joyful and absolutely free chapters, which will be written blending rules and genres, feeding on new spaces, linguistic codes, and communication platforms. And beyond. I would like to leave behind the paraphernalia of leitmotifs that colonized our prior world: cruise, pre-fall, spring-summer, fall-winter. I think these are stale and underfed words. Labels of an impersonal discourse that lost its meaning."

Report: Amanda T Lou

Meet the Designer Behind Vashtie's Wedding Veil

Like many people, Vashtie had plans for a big, extravagant wedding. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that plan was out the window. She and her husband, Emil Boye, secretly married at City Hall. They didn't wear the traditional wedding attire, however. "To honor tradition I wore all white, but to be true to myself I donned an ensemble consisting of a white Supreme Hanes T-shirt, white Dickies, white Air Force 1 Lows, and a custom Durag Veil by Evita Loca," Vashtie told Complex. "My now-husband stayed true to his Danish style wearing a minimal look of all black and Retro Mid Jordan 1s." Vashtie has always been known for her streetwear and style. She has worn high end designer pieces of clothing with sneakers and graphic t-shirts. She was also the first woman to design a Jordan sneaker.

Evita Loca was excited to design the drag, but she had no idea it was for Vashtie's wedding. Loca was asked to design the piece for a photoshoot, and ended up finding out with the general public. Loca has been designing durags since 2017, after friends invited her to go to the Durag Festival. "The night before I kind of rummaged through my little stockpile of fabric and I wanted to make a piece that stood out, because by nature I’m a shy person. I wanted the piece to speak for me. I came across sequined fabric and thought, ‘What if this durag has like a Met Gala-esque vibe to it?' It was a black sequin and it came down to maybe the back of my ankles. I went to this festival and people were taking pictures and stuff like that. It had a good response," she says.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Hanifa Used 3D Models to Launch Its Latest Collection on Instagram Live

The coronavirus pandemic is changing so many industries worldwide. One such change that is already taking place is the move to make fashion shows more accessible by using 3D digital models to launch new collections online.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Hanifa's designer, Anifa Mvuemba, revealed that she already planned to launch her new collection, Pink Label Congo, online, but wondered if it was still the right move when the coronavirus pandemic changed everything. Mvuemba explained, "The news came out about how serious things were and I started to feel a bit anxious about everything going on. I started feeling like maybe it would be insensitive to create and share a new collection online while people were facing very difficult realities."

With her designs, Mvuemba wants to celebrate the beauty of Congo, while drawing attention to the issues faced by people in the locale such as illegal mining. Using 3D models is a natural next step for Mvuemba, who told Teen Vogue, "designing content using 3D models and now an entire collection has been a complete game changer for me." Making the launch entirely digital has only been positive for the brand, as the designer revealed, "My decision to keep going could impact our customers for the better in ways I never imagined. That’s when I knew it was time."

Instagram is also the great leveler when it comes to fashion, as Mvuemba explained, "We know that some people may never experience a fashion week or Hanifa showcase, so we wanted to show up for our audience where they show up for us on a daily basis. That’s when Instagram became the obvious choice."

Report: Amanda T Lou

Examining Professional Athlete Fashion

Professional athletes are not normally known for their fashion choices. They usually have assigned uniforms they have to wear while on the job, but they do get to choose how to look when the camera is still on them before and after the game. While many well-dressed male athletes opt for a simple suit and tie, some have been known to show off much more flamboyant looks. There’s also no shortage of female athletes who know how to dress off the court.

Serena Williams is the perfect example of someone whose athletic ability is complimented by their stylish drip. She recently headlined Sports Illustrated’s fourth annual Fashion 50 list, a ranking of the most fashionable professional athletes put together by a team of sports and fashion experts alike. Williams explained that her ambition to display her chic, empowering style when she isn’t playing goes hand in hand with her mentality as an athlete. “I always try to send the message of just being confident and being fierce,” she said.

There’s no shortage of male athletes who aspire to look confidence and fierce on the field and through their clothes. Many of the athletes from SI’s list play in either the NFL or NBA. Odell Beckham Jr., Russell Westbrook and James Harden are all ranked very high due to their outfits that range from vintage to latest, designer to unconventional, and masculine threads to feminine apparel. There’s also of course Cam Newton, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback and current free agent. He is most known for his headwear, showing up to his press conferences in everything from a Sunday best top hat akin to a traditional churchgoer from the Deep South to bandanas worn in the style of Rosie the Riveter.

While the bigger focus on fashion for athletes has been much more apparent in recent times than in the past, there are still some early trendsetters who loved to wear more than just a suit and tie. Broadway Joe Namath came about as the New York Jets quarterback in the late 1960s and his long hair and cocky attitude represented the cultural changes taking place in the United States at that time. He was also known for wearing fur coats while on the sidelines. Walter "Clyde" Frazier came up around the same time as Namath and appeared in multiple clothing advertisements. He’s still known for his tastes whenever he wears a unique suit during Knicks broadcasts. Then there is Dennis Rodman who frequently changed the color of his hair and even wore the occasional dress.

Still, fashion plays a much larger role for Millennial athletes than previous generations. Nearly everyone on SI’s list was born after 1980. Zoomers, such as Zion Williamson and Lamar Jackson, are just beginning to take over the sports landscape. It’ll be interesting to see how fashion trends change with the new generation and future generations to come.

Photos courtesy of Imgur and Flickr user cliff1066™

Report: Michael Rosen

The Ryan Murphy Series "Hollywood," and its 1940s Costumes

Ryan Murphy's newest TV masterpiece is the Netflix show Hollywood. It centers around the TV and film industry in the 1940's, with aspiring actors and directors trying to make it big. It is almost a "what if" look at the industry, with fictionalized versions of well-known figures, like Rock Hudson.

Since the show is a period drama, the fashion and costumes were a big part of the series. Costume designers Lou Eyrich and Sarah Evelyn based the fashions on "golden age cinema". They used a color palette of golden browns, pinks, caramels, reds, greens, and purples. Evelyn and Eyrich call this palette "harvest tones". They also took references from famous 1940's icons and movies, like Woman Of The Year, Casablanca, The Red Shoes, The Killers, Gilda, and Gentleman's Agreement. "As we looked at the characters and made the tone board, we developed style icons for each of the characters", Evelyn says about their process. Evelyn and Eyrich also worked closely with the hair and makeup departments, to determine the looks. "If Ryan chose a specific hair color or wig", Evelyn said, "that would affect our work greatly".

Many of the costumes were custom made because, "1940s clothing is extremely difficult to find and generally very small", Evelyn explains. However, some of the pieces were bought from vendors who specialize in vintage clothing.

Several of the show's actors enjoyed their costumes, some even got attached to them. "We definitely had characters who got attached to their costumes and wanted to take stuff home", Evelyn says.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Opening Ceremony's Announcement

The fashion industry has been struggling for a long time, specifically their retail stores. With online shopping getting more and more popular, and people finding it way easier to use, retail stores have started to close. The COVID-19 crisis and lockdowns have already forced most businesses and retail stores to close. However, this might not be a temporary thing. Several high end and well-known brands, like Neiman Marcus and Forever 21, have already closed locations, citing financial issues. Last week, Opening Ceremony, an American clothing brand founded by Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, announced it would be shutting all of its locations down permanently. Lim and Leon announced this development on their Instagram. "We were going to set up a karaoke machine and ask you to sing a song with us. Make you a drink and give you some snacks. We were going to work in the stores for our last month so that we could thank you and hang out the way we did in 2002 when we first opened,” they wrote. “But while that is not in the cards, the feelings of gratefulness and love are still there.”

In January, Opening Ceremony announced that it would be selling a majority of its stake to the New Guards Group. Later, they announced that they would be transitioning away from retail by closing locations. Lim and Leon stated that Opening Ceremony would now be focusing on in-house collections of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. Opening Ceremony's online stores will continue to operate into June. Their official re-launch is scheduled for later this year. However, Opening Ceremony will continue to "tie fashion obsessions to culture at large," which has been their goal from the beginning.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Savage x Fenty Teams up with Megan Thee Stallion for Their 2020 Campaign

Rihanna’s lingerie line, Savage X Fenty, has announced Megan Thee Stallion as their 2020 brand partner. The collaboration deemed #SavageXTheestallion, is part of the brand’s community-led summer campaign where brand partners, ambassadors and influencers take photos from inside their homes. The brand is teaming with mixed media artist Rafatoon to put together the campaigns.

The “Savage” and “Hot Girl” singer was given this opportunity with Savage X Fenty after she helped launch TikTok’s account in April with the #SavageChallenge. From the app, she was seen modeling the brand’s lingerie while dancing along to her hit song, Savage. The challenge has become viral and has nearly 800 million views.

When interviewed about the collaboration, Rihanna said “Meg is the energy we were looking for. She is a risk-taker with an attitude, character and personality.”

In the first campaign shots, Megan is seen wearing a yellow lace bra, paired with a matching thong. Another shot shows Megan on top of a leather chair featuring the same lingerie that she wore from the original #SavageChallenge video.

The collaboration will feature fits of all available sizes, from 32A-42H and XS on www.savageX.com, Amazon.com, ASOS.com and Zalando.com and is nothing short of classy, bougie and ratchet.

Report: Woo Jong Kim

Chanel Boosts Prices on Some Handbags, Small Leather Goods

Chanel has raised prices worldwide on a few of its products to counterbalance the increased cost of raw materials amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The French fashion house told Reuters that price hikes apply to some handbags and small leather goods, with the increases varying between 5 to 17 percent in euros. Chanel told the news agency, “The price adjustments only regard Chanel's iconic handbags, 11.12 and 2.55, as well as Boy, Gabrielle, Chanel 19 bags and certain small leather goods,”

Chanel named the legendary 2.55 handbag after the month and year that it was originally released, with 2.55 standing for February 1955. Creative director Karl Lagerfield’s modernized version of the 2.55 bag was the 11.12. Other luxury brands have seen price surges as well, including Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. While Louis Vuitton Korea has raised prices by 5 to 10 percent on some items, Tiffany’s has hiked prices up to 11 percent for limited merchandise in South Korea. Bulgari has also increased its prices.

While brands blame increased prices on company pricing policy, exchange rate fluctuations, and raw material costs, some believe that these companies are purposefully raising prices so that certain customers will make extravagant purchases after being forced to social distance and remain inside.

Report: Amanda T. Lou

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Supreme Honors The Life of Danial Johnston

On Thursday morning, Supreme dropped their new Spring/Summer collection honoring Daniel Johnston, a musician and artist who passed away in September 2019. Daniel Johnston was known for creating both musical and visual art, inspired by his experience with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Designers did an exceptional job constructing a line while paying respect to Daniel Johnston and people suffering from mental illness. Supreme also announced that they would be contributing a portion of their profits to the Hi, How Are You Project, an organization that drives awareness and education around mental health. Another portion of the profit will be donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), both organizations are nonprofit and support the youth suffering with mental illness.

You can find anything from pants, jackets, t-shirts, and hats that showcase his most favorable piece of work, Jeremiah The Innocent, the frog who appears on the album cover of his album “Hi How Are You”. In addition to their new drop, Supreme released a video highlighting some of Danial Johnston’s best moments honoring the life he lived and his various talents. As the clip plays, an over-voice of Daniel Johnston states “I think art has always been inspired by beauty. I think there have been many artists throughout history who had a major inspiration whether it’s a girl or even just a philosophy. That’s what I like about life and about art. It’s when you write a song it’s just the way you saw it or just the way that”.

Supreme rose awareness and educated many on mental illness, while providing unique clothes for the public. We live in modern times and it’s sad to see that mental illness is still associated with negative stigma. Credit to Supreme for supporting such a cause that many look down upon, bringing sentimental value to the table, and of course honoring the life of Daniel Johnston.

Report: Emily Andrews

Savage X Summer

Who wouldn’t want to spend the summer in style? Savage X Fenty has come out with a new collection for this summer! The owner of the brand, the world-renowned singer Rihanna, also owns a makeup brand called Fenty beauty. Hence the name, Savage X Fenty. Among the summer pieces collection, she included a selection of sunglasses that have been a rage all over social media called Off Record. The Savage X brand is breaking boundaries, all thanks to Riri, along with her all-inclusive makeup brand.

This collection displays more light and playful colors. There are comfort pieces as well as pieces that are sexy and can help boost more confidence amongst all the beautiful ladies in the world! It includes lingerie, a bra and pantie set, and even bathing suits. The bathing suits are what is the center of attention this time around. Usually, many bikinis are uncomfortable, but Savage X Fenty is known to make products that are not only sexy but also are comfortable to wear. You invoke the most beauty and confidence when you’re comfortable, and Rihanna seems to know its importance.

Rihanna has been working tremendously hard to make the beauty and fashion industries inclusive of women of all shapes, sizes, and colors. She has done a phenomenal job by ensuring that all women feel confident when wearing any of her products. Merging her two brands has been the most beneficial decision. We all hope that Riri keeps putting out products because we cannot get enough!

Photo Credits: Pink set: @hausofjazzy

Orange set: @dearra

Lavender set: @badgalriri

#OffRecord: @badgalriri

Report: Soila Douce